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Madeline-Michelle Carthen from St. Louis, USA, wanted to intern in Ghana in the summer of 2007 through a university exchange program. When she applied, she got what was initially a funny message: her Social Security number was linked to a deceased person. Officially it no longer existed from that moment on.
“I laughed,” Carthen told NBC. “I said, ‘What do you mean? I’m sitting here. I have been at school for over a year and a half. …Why am I dead? Does this affect my internship abroad?›»
That happened, but the real problems were just beginning. Carthen contacted the responsible authorities, who immediately realized that the entry in the death register was due to an error. Apparently it couldn’t be undone, but she was given a document to show everyone to prove she was alive.
Better said than done. By entering the deceased’s file, it was stored in the systems of the Tax Authorities, the Ministry of Homeland Security and other authorities. “That influenced my life,” Carthen tells the channel.
Over the years, her jobs were terminated because human resources departments could not process payroll under her Social Security number, vehicles were seized and she was evicted from apartments. Carthen, who currently lives with her sister, says she cannot get a mortgage.
She says resignedly: “Sometimes I can get a job, but after a few months there is a problem.” This happens again and again. You just never know when it will happen.
Carthen tried again and again to correct the error with all possible documents. She changed her name, applied for a new Social Security number, and felt hopeful for a moment when she actually got a new number. However, hope disappeared when the new number was linked to the old number. She even tried to sue the agency but was rebuffed.
She wants to keep fighting until the mistake is finally fixed. ‘All I know is that I’m alive. “I don’t care what the software says, but I’m still alive,” she said. “But that is difficult to prove.” (neo)
Source: Blick
I am Amelia James, a passionate journalist with a deep-rooted interest in current affairs. I have more than five years of experience in the media industry, working both as an author and editor for 24 Instant News. My main focus lies in international news, particularly regional conflicts and political issues around the world.
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